Capen Court volunteers, Peggy Kneeland and Pauline Ghiozzi, present sheets and blankets to veterans and staff at the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center.

By Louise Carpenter

In December, residents at the Somerville Housing Authority’s Capen Court held a successful holiday bazaar in the spirit of giving back during the winter season. Residents chose to donate all proceeds to formerly homeless veterans living at the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center in Somerville.

Capen Court volunteers used proceeds to purchase much-needed items for the veterans including sheets, blankets, hats, gloves, toiletries and many other personal necessities. Last Tuesday, Capen Court residents Pauline Ghiozzi and Margaret (Peggy) Kneeland delivered the donations. In addition, they also brought along a special box full of baked goods homemade by resident Betty Giordano, to the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center.

The program is owned and operated by Volunteers of America Massachusetts, and provides transitional and permanent housing to veterans, while also offering them opportunities to seek addiction counseling, mental health care, employment, education and public benefits resources. The program provides services to approximately 75 formally homeless veterans annually.

Program Director Anthony Joseph said, “The veterans we serve have had it very rough for many years and for some even decades. When they come to the program they have an opportunity to start over and generous donations like these from Capen Court are a reminder that the community appreciates the sacrifices they’ve made to serve our country.”